Qing Luo Episode 1 Recap
> Qing Luo Recap
In the Fengcang Kingdom, the King issued an imperial edict announcing a Medical Competition, secretly seeking a divine physician capable of treating the mysterious illness afflicting Minister of Revenue, Ye Haoran. Prince Ye Xiudu, close to his brother Haoran, firmly believed that the illness was the result of a malicious plot. He vowed to find a divine physician to cure Ye Haoran and uncover the truth behind his condition.
In Zuimeng City, Ye Xiudu found himself in a bustling teahouse where a storyteller regaled the patrons with tales of the legendary "mysterious doctor." The storyteller lauded her medical skills as being on par with ancient masters like Hua Tuo and Bian Que. Two rumors about her circulated: one highlighted her miraculous ability to bring the dead back to life, and the other emphasized her elusive nature, appearing and disappearing without a trace.
Her signature item, a fragrant purple fan, was said to contain various potent medicinal and poisonous powders, allowing her to either save or kill with its opening and closing. However, her true appearance remained a mystery, with some claiming she was a benevolent elderly woman and others describing her as a fairy-like young lady. Amidst the chatter, news spread about the upcoming Medical Competition on Fengcang Kingdom's Yaowang Island, near Zuimeng City.
The winner was promised the revered "Shennong Pharmacopoeia," and many speculated that the mysterious doctor would undoubtedly attend to claim the title of the world's foremost physician. The mysterious doctor arrived in Zuimeng City, drawing considerable attention. The Affectionate Childe, Ye Pianzhou, a known womanizer, attempted to challenge her but was easily repelled by her attendants. Ye Xiudu, observing discreetly, caught a glimpse of the mysterious doctor's face — a composed young woman seated elegantly in her sedan chair.
He surmised that this subtle yet impactful group must be the legendary figure. This mysterious doctor was Yu Qingluo. While in the city, she continued her medical practice, even healing a fainting girl named Qing'er, the daughter of a local landlord.
Yu Qingluo’s attendants, acting on her behalf, then suggested a marriage alliance between the "mysterious doctor's distant cousin" (actually Yu Qingluo herself) and Landlord Zhang's son, Mr. Zhang, to take place on the Red Bridge during the Qiqiao Festival, with Mr. Zhang wearing a specific mask. Yu Qingluo confided in her friend, Jin Liuli, her determination to find a stepfather for her son, Nan Nan, though she worried Nan Nan might scare off her suitor.
She felt Nan Nan needed a disciplinarian, and Mr. Zhang, a patient school teacher, seemed a suitable candidate. To prevent Nan Nan from interfering, Jin Liuli arranged for Nannan to be taken to the south of the city by Monkfruit. Unbeknownst to them, Nan Nan had overheard their entire conversation and secretly plotted his own disruption. Later that night, Ye Xiudu and his attendant, Mo Xian, were ambushed by a group of men in black near the city gate.
Ye Xiudu sustained an arm injury, but insisted Mo Xian hide while he distracted their assailants. Meanwhile, Nan Nan, having eluded Monkfruit, intentionally bumped into Mr. Zhang, who was wearing the agreed-upon mask. Recognizing his mother's date, Nan Nan released his pet scorpion to teach Mr. Zhang a lesson, much to Monkfruit's despair. Ye Xiudu, still evading the men in black, ducked into the bustling market, grabbing a mask from a stall to conceal his identity.
At that moment, Yu Qingluo, mistaking the masked Ye Xiudu for Mr. Zhang, approached him. Seeing his pursuers, Ye Xiudu embraced Yu Qingluo, feigning affection to deter the assassins. Noticing his injury, Yu Qingluo compassionately led him to a secret room belonging to her acquaintance, Mr. Ding. While concealed, she continued to address him as Mr. Zhang. When Mr. Ding's voice was heard from outside, implying the danger had passed, Yu Qingluo moved to open the door.
However, Ye Xiudu, sensing a lingering threat or a possible ruse, swiftly kissed her to prevent her from revealing their location. Once they finally emerged, an outraged Yu Qingluo furiously confronted Ye Xiudu, accusing him of being a lecher. During their heated exchange, his mask fell off, revealing that he was not Mr. Zhang.
Ye Xiudu calmly stated he never claimed that identity, thanked her for her help, and quickly departed, leaving Yu Qingluo to hurl curses at his retreating figure. The assassins, having failed to capture Ye Xiudu, reported their incompetence to their Deputy Chief, who summarily executed the subordinate and dispatched Lianhun to pursue Ye Xiudu. Back at the market, Yu Qingluo found Mr. Zhang covered in painful red welts from Nan Nan's scorpion.
She swiftly provided an antidote and sent him home, then returned to confront her mischievous son, Yu Qingnan (Nan Nan). Despite Nan Nan's tearful apologies and promises to reform, Yu Qingluo remained firm, determined to find a father who could discipline him. Feeling unloved and misunderstood, Nan Nan declared he would run away from home again, asserting that no one but his biological father could fill that role.
Monkfruit tried to intervene, assuring Nan Nan of his mother's deep affection and reminding Yu Qingluo that Nan Nan never stayed away for more than an hour. But Nan Nan, determined to earn his mother's respect, decided to undertake a significant feat. He learned of the upcoming Medical Competition and saw it as his opportunity. Meanwhile, Jin Liuli tried to convince Yu Qingluo to abandon her quest for a stepfather, arguing that Nan Nan would only accept his biological father.
Yu Qingluo despaired, saying finding his father was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Jin Liuli, however, offered a ray of hope. She revealed that six years prior, when she rescued Yu Qingluo from the Chaobai River, Yu Qingluo was unconscious but clutching a distinctive jade pendant, which Jin Liuli's friend later identified as the work of the world's finest craftsman.
With Fulong Inn branches spanning four kingdoms but conspicuously absent in the Fengcang Kingdom's capital, Jin Liuli proposed expanding there as a strategic move to uncover the pendant's origin and the father's identity. Yu Qingluo expressed concern for Jin Liuli's safety, as her friend had been hiding from the powerful Xiuluo Sect in the capital for years. But Jin Liuli, unwavering in her loyalty, insisted on helping, recognizing this as their only lead.
She cautiously reminded Yu Qingluo that pursuing this past might unearth painful memories, as Yu Qingluo had awakened from a three-day coma after her rescue with complete amnesia, unable to recall her past. Nan Nan, still determined to make his mother proud, poisoned Monkfruit and took ten taels of silver before sailing to Yaowang Island for the Medical Competition. Upon arrival, he attempted to obtain a contestant pass, but scoffed at the exorbitant price of a thousand taels.
Hungry, he followed the aroma of crispy chicken and found himself at a stall where Ye Xiudu was eating. Ye Xiudu caught Nan Nan trying to steal his food. Quick-witted, Nan Nan feigned the role of a pitiful orphan, gaining Ye Xiudu's sympathy, who then offered him food. Nan Nan then dramatically declared himself the direct disciple of the mysterious doctor.
Observing Ye Xiudu's trembling hand, Nan Nan correctly diagnosed him with a potent poison that would be fatal in ten days. He produced an antidote from his pocket, which Ye Xiudu consumed, instantly alleviating his symptoms and restoring his hand's strength. Impressed, Ye Xiudu agreed to take Nan Nan to the Medical Competition.
Nan Nan, ever the shrewd negotiator, demanded 90% of the prize money and a hundred crispy chickens, to which Ye Xiudu generously offered the entire prize and a roast chicken store if Nan Nan won the championship. The two then formalized their agreement in writing. Driven by her search for Nan Nan, Yu Qingluo also arrived at Yaowang Island.
To her indignation, a flamboyant individual posing as the mysterious doctor was granted special entry to the competition grounds, while she, the real mysterious doctor, was dismissed and forced to buy an expensive pass with her last remaining money. Once inside, she spotted Nan Nan, safe and sound, laughing and chatting with Ye Xiudu. Later, as Ye Xiudu watched the now-sleeping Nan Nan, Yu Qingluo, disguised as a maid, entered Ye Xiudu's room after incapacitating his attendant, Mo Xian.
Seeing Ye Xiudu bathing in the adjacent room, she seized the chance to retrieve Nan Nan. Ye Xiudu, hearing the noise, mistakenly called out to Nan Nan for wound healing ointment. Yu Qingluo's eyes then landed on a Linfeng flute, which she recognized as belonging to the notorious womanizer, Ye Pianzhou. This instantly brought back memories of Landlord Zhang's daughter, Qing'er, who had tragically committed suicide after being cruelly abandoned by Ye Pianzhou.
Recalling her vow to seek justice for women exploited by such heartless men, Yu Qingluo, now suspecting Ye Pianzhou was in the room, rushed towards the bathroom, only to accidentally collide with Ye Xiudu, who had just stepped out.
